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Capt James Salt
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« on: May 19, 2012, 05:49:15 am » |
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Here is the beginning of my paper airship. I hope it will be entered into the Gentleman's Challenge. I searched the net and saw some amazing creations made out of paper. However, I'm finding building stuff out of paper is not as easy as it looks.   Gluing several sheets of paper together create a fairly stiff piece of paper.   I'm not sure where this is going to end up, but I'm on my way…………. |
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« Last Edit: May 19, 2012, 06:13:59 am by Capt James Salt »
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MarcusJuliusCroft
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« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2012, 06:02:27 am » |
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Well, whatever my design my be, I DO NOT want it to end up like this. "Cringes, and Covers eyes"  |
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I am what I am because I am, an Entrepreneur, Villain, Student and Mastermind
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James Harrison
Rogue Ætherlord
 England
Bachelor of the Arts; Master of the Sciences
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« Reply #2 on: May 20, 2012, 04:12:32 pm » |
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However, I'm finding building stuff out of paper is not as easy as it looks.
What problems are you having with it? I've taken to building my model engines out of paper (easier I am finding than using plastic) and have got some fairly respectable results:  My latest creation employed paper for the frames, firebox, cab and the entire tender. |
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Persons intending to travel by open carriage should select a seat with their backs to the engine, by which means they will avoid the ashes emitted therefrom, that in travelling generally, but particularly through the tunnels, prove a great annoyance; the carriage farthest from the engine will in consequence be found the most desirable.
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Atterton
Master Tinkerer
Only The Shadow knows
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« Reply #3 on: May 20, 2012, 04:40:27 pm » |
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Why not use cardboard to make an internal skeleton first, then make the outside using paper.
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In space, no one can hear you steam.
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James Harrison
Rogue Ætherlord
England
Bachelor of the Arts; Master of the Sciences
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« Reply #4 on: May 20, 2012, 04:51:14 pm » |
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I would say, based solely off of looking at the photographs, that the main problem is one of trying to force the paper to a shape that its tension wants to avoid. Hence why the laminations are coming apart and why the paper has rucked rather than forming a smooth surface.
If I were to make a suggestion, I would say to actually roll the paper around a cylinder former (something like a pen would be ideal), which would form a coil of paper, then wrap it around the other way to flatten it out again. What this does is to weaken the tension in the sheet and makes it easier to form to a curve, especially if it's part of a lamination. If you want to make a curve in two dimensions (say, inward toward the front of the model but also over the top of it at the same time), you could also try using the paper on the bias- so the tension is at an angle to the direction of the component- which might help out a bit too.
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Capt James Salt
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« Reply #5 on: May 20, 2012, 05:20:45 pm » |
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Thank you friends for your comments. The problem I'm having is getting thin printer paper to bend into the shape that I need. Up until now, I have always built models using plastic. As you can see the hull of the ship is collapsing. I should have installed more internal ribs. A fix is in the works.  Atterton: I can not use cardboard because I'm playing by the rules of the Gentleman's Challenge. James Harrison: Great idea. Yes, I need to do as you say. Thank you for the help !! I have found that if I glue two pieces of paper together I can create a fairly stiff piece of paper. It's almost like cardboard. And I can shape it before the glue dries. I'm learning some new techniques as I build. Thank you all......... |
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« Last Edit: May 20, 2012, 05:22:55 pm by Capt James Salt »
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James Harrison
Rogue Ætherlord
England
Bachelor of the Arts; Master of the Sciences
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« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2012, 05:23:24 pm » |
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I'm thinking I'm interested in this challenge... might make a nice change from my current project- a Jersey Lily... |
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Kevin C Cooper Esq
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« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2012, 06:53:15 pm » |
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Might it help if the hull was "planked"?
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Capt James Salt
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« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2012, 07:06:27 pm » |
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Might it help if the hull was "planked"?
Yes, that is exactly what I'm going to do. Great minds think alike !! LOL But I think I'm going to use both planking and metal plating............ |
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greensteam
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« Reply #9 on: May 21, 2012, 12:30:59 am » |
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I dont have it any more but, having once made a model of the Mayflower by the frame and plank method in wood, I then had go doing the same in paper and card. It was reasonably satisfactory although not a beautiful model like the wooden one which I do still have.
I think that, for a ship's hull to have sufficient rigidity to allow the planking to keep shape, you will need either card keel and frames or some form of corrugation or pleating to produce directional rigidity.
Another possibility is to wet the sheets of paper and lay them over a form to get the necessary curvatures while drying.
I used to make paper and one thing is worth knowing is which way the grain of your paper runs as folding works better with the grain than across it. Machine made paper is made in continuous rolls with the wet pulp being drawn over meshes in such a way that the paper fibres more or less line up in the direction of travel and that is what gives paper its grain.
If you tear a piece of paper in one direction you are likely to be able to tear a reasonably straight line but if you try to tear it at right angles to that, you will find it nearly impossible to tear a straight line freehand.
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So it's every hand to his rope or gun, quick's the word and sharp's the action. After all... Surprise is on our side.
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Capt James Salt
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« Reply #10 on: May 21, 2012, 01:24:54 am » |
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I think that, for a ship's hull to have sufficient rigidity to allow the planking to keep shape, you will need either card keel and frames or some form of corrugation or pleating to produce directional rigidity.
I used to make paper and one thing is worth knowing is which way the grain of your paper runs as folding works better with the grain than across it. Machine made paper is made in continuous rolls with the wet pulp being drawn over meshes in such a way that the paper fibres more or less line up in the direction of travel and that is what gives paper its grain.
If you tear a piece of paper in one direction you are likely to be able to tear a reasonably straight line but if you try to tear it at right angles to that, you will find it nearly impossible to tear a straight line freehand.
OK, that makes sense. Now I understand why paper acts as it does. I'm not too worried about exactness. My creation will be somewhat whimsical............ Thanks....... |
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Capt James Salt
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« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2012, 01:36:48 am » |
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The next thing I need do is figure out what scale I'm building in. As this is supposed to be a small airship I have chosen 1/48th scale. In railroad terms it is "O" scale. Here is the airship with two 1/48th scale figures.   Carry on.................. |
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greensteam
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« Reply #12 on: May 21, 2012, 08:15:38 pm » |
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Oh, a life on the ocean page....
a life on the rolling A3
a life on ocean page
oh thats the life for me......
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The Inventor
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« Reply #13 on: May 21, 2012, 10:35:06 pm » |
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This is pretty awesome
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Arkwright
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« Reply #15 on: May 23, 2012, 04:39:40 pm » |
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Looking good.
A vastly underrated material if you ask me.
Arkwright
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"I devote my life to two worthy goals: unmasking Dorian the Anarchist and ensuring absolute victory over the Fish People!"
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Capt James Salt
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« Reply #16 on: May 23, 2012, 05:05:45 pm » |
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Looking good.
A vastly underrated material if you ask me.
Arkwright
Thank you. Yes, if you do a Google search for "paper art" it will blow your mind what people are making out of paper. It's amazing. They use various weights of paper and cardboard. However, for the Gentlemans Challenge we are using only printer paper. |
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hardlec
Officer
 United States
Solutions do not need Problems
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« Reply #17 on: May 24, 2012, 03:02:57 pm » |
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There are dozens of sites that offer paper models of everything from trilobites to star ships. They are very Victorian.
Internal ribs are typical. The ribs also allow for sections bigger than a sheet of paper.
And yes, they publish kits of airships going back to Santo-Dumas
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Whatever happens we have got
The Maxim gun and they have not;
Technology is no substitute for Valor
Both are true.
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